By a 6-1 vote, Columbia Borough Council moved forward with the proposed sale of the cabin area along the Susquehanna River to the River Cottage Owners Association.
The sale, which was first proposed late last summer, will net the borough an undisclosed amount of money, believed to be $350,000, that will be used for infrastructure improvements.
The borough, who was gifted the land from the Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation, will use the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, as the middle man in the proposed sale. This is similar to the approach used when the borough sold the property at Third and Linden streets, which will become the Turkey Hill Experience late this summer.
Council vice-president Mary Barninger expressed concern on any potential financial impacts the transaction will have on the borough. She didn't the borough to get into the real estate business again. Borough Manager Norm Meiskey explained the impact would be minimal.
Resident Frank Doutrich, under citizen comments, questioned the deal and wanted to know about any hidden costs. He was given a copy of the two documents approved last night.
Voting for the two motions to accept the gift of the land and then to proceed to sell it were Barninger, Mike Beury, Jim Smith, Mary Wickenheiser, Sandy Duncan and Renae Sears. Voting against the motions was Kelly Murphy, who explained his "no" vote.
Murphy said it had to do when he first moved to Columbia back in 2002 and he and his wife were walking around the cabin area and were told to get "off private priperty."
He also said the borough should have explored other opportunities for the area.
"It was a tough decision for me, but 10,000 residents of this community would love to have an opportunity like this. There wasn't enough thought given to this process and I know my position is unpopular," Murphy said.
After the vote, Doutrich also questioned Smith's vote as a potential conflict of interest. Smith is a board member of the CEDC. Solicitor Barry Handwerger said there was no ethics violation.

At last night's special council meeting, the previously appointed board members of the Market House Trust were appointed to their terms:
Three Year: Ann Grubb, Nancy Jo Lutz and Don Haines.
Two Year: Ed Schopf and Rebecca Murphy.
One Year: David Rupp and Elaine Beckley.

The fifth annual free celebration of Earth Day will be held at Sahd Salvage, 1045 Lancaster Ave., Columbia, on Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The family-friendly event will showcase dozens of local organizations and their green innovations.

Those attending will have an opportunity to earn money by recycling aluminum cans. Everyone who brings aluminum cans to Sahd Salvage during the event will be given a special Earth Day price for the cans and will be entered into a random drawing for a $50 prize. In addition, the individual or organization that brings in the most cans will receive a $100 prize. There will also be a free opportunity to recycle metals, cardboard, glossy mail, and a two bag/box maximum of paper and secure documents to be shredded.

Children may enroll in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Passport program, in which they will play games and answer environment-related trivia questions at vendor booths. Children who complete the booklet will receive a free treat.

The event will also feature a Kids Activity Center with environmentally themed crafts, face painting, and an Earth Day themed story time. In addition, there will be an opportunity to compete in a recycled fitness course. Everyone is also invited to witness the Columbia and Reading Railroad locomotive. Tours of the recycling facility will take place at 9:45, 10:45, and 11:45 a.m.

More than 25 local businesses and community organizations will participate in the event, which is the most ever. Organizations representing all forms of environmental protection will be on display. Attendees will be given the opportunity to melt metal and create pendants from molds, sculpt "Earth Clay," and view green-friendly go-karts and innovative vehicles. There will be hands-on exhibits focusing on wind, solar, and geothermal energy; styrofoam recycling; and many other green activities.

An antiques and collectibles sale, which will be new to the event this year, will benefit Kenyan missions. An area radio station will broadcast its Kids Cookie Break Show live. Food from various businesses and vendors and bake sale items will be available to benefit the Columbia Food Bank. For more information, readers may call 684-8506 or visit recycleyourmetal.com.

At a special meeting tonight, Columbia Borough Council appointed Sgt. Jack Brommer as interim police chief, effective June 1, upon the retirement of current Chief Joseph Greenya.

Greenya, who joined the police force in June 1974, has served as police chief since July 12, 1996 In 1980, Greenya was promoted from patrolman to sergeant and in 1996 was named detective sergeant.

Brommer, who attended the meeting, will celebrate his 15th anniversary as an officer in January, has been a sergeant for the last six years. He is the senior member of the force.

As a result of the promotion, Sgt. Brommer will receive a five percent increase in his base pay.

“Jack is an excellent officer,” said Mayor Leo Lutz.

Lutz said as soon as possible, Brommer will be removed from shift work to begin the transition.

“We are very pleased to see that Jack has agreed to accept this,”the mayor said.

Councilman Jim Smith, a former member of the borough's Civil Service Commission, hopes that Sgt. Brommer, will be able to change the force.

“I can say this (because of my role on the commission) that I have been disappointed in our police department for the last few years. We hired the best but they were not living up to their expectations and I know what these guys are capable4 of,”: Smith said.

“It is an honor for me that you (council) has the faith in me to do the job because this borough means an awful lot to me,”: Brommer said.

Also at the meeting, council approved beginning the advertisement for a permanent chief and authorized the Civil Service Commission to begin the testing process once the applications are received.

On 20 April 2011 at 11:51 pm, a structure fire was reported at 156 Locust Street in Columbia.

A passerby noticed a second-floor window sill was on fire, and summoned the Fire Department. Columbia Police responded to the address along with Columbia Fire Departments to assist with traffic control and possible evacuation of neighboring buildings.

While Fire personnel were inside the building, they noticed multiple building code violations. As such, Fire personnel summoned Columbia Police personnel inside for further investigation. Police made contact with the building owner and occupants, and explained that Columbia Borough Code Officer Jeff Helm would be responding to the building for further inspection. After notifying the owner of this, Police continued coordinating Helm's response with the Fire Department. Unbeknownst to Police, the building owner and its occupants left the scene after being advised of this, and could not be located.
As the Fire Department personnel continued to check the building for the presence of fire, they discovered a marijuana grow operation being conducted on the third and fourth floors of the residence. Police were summoned to this area of the building, and found approximately 10-12 pounds of loose harvested marijuana in bags, and approximately 60-70 mature marijuana plants being grown. This area was immediately secured for investigation. Due to the nature and severity of the code violations throughout the building, it was condemned through the Columbia Borough Codes Office.
Police were able to identify the building owner and its occupants before they left the scene, and all belong to the same family. The investigation is ongoing at this time.

Hosted Annually by Impact Christian Center of Columbia.
Registration for door prizes/grand prize takes place at Glatfelter Field, Lancaster Avenue, Columbia, PA (next to Anvil International). at 10:00 a.m. or online at www.impact-christian.com.
We will have Games, Pony Rides, and live Entertainment that run from 10:00-1:00, with the FREE Egg Hunts beginning at 1:00. Ticket sales for Games and Ponies are from 10:00 - 12:30
Joining us again this year is Sean "The Sandy Candy Guy" from Clown around Town, and new this year is Gelati Girl from Rita's Italian Ice from noon to 2.
Our Silent Auction items include: a Joe Paterno Autographed Football, Autographed Photos from Troy Polamalu and many others, Villanova team signed basketball, Grills, Vacation packages and much more!
If you need more information: call (717) 684-4770, see us on the web at: www.impact-christian.com, or email us at: info@impact-christian.com.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Columbia senior Emily Detz fired her second perfect game of the season this afternoon.
Detz fanned five and didn't allow a ball out of the infield as the Tide dominated Garden Spot, 15-0.
It was Detz' second perfect game of the season.
The game was about 15 minutes or so late getting started as Garden Spot's bus got lost coming to Columbia and ended up near Middletown.
The Tide has a big game this afternoon at home against Pequea Valley.

On April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. nine local law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring your medications for disposal to the below listed sites. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last September, Americans turned in 242,000 pounds—121 tons—of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,000 state and local law enforcement partners, including multiple local law enforcement agencies.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Four days after last fall’s event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA has begun drafting regulations to implement the Act.
Sites:
1. Lancaster County Drug Task Force at the Lancaster Bureau of Police Department, 39 W.
Chestnut St., Lancaster, PA.
2. Warwick Township Police Department at Giant Food Store, 1008 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA.
3. Lititz Borough Police Department at Lititz Borough Police Station, 7 S. Broad St., Lititz, PA
4. Mount Joy Borough Police Department at the Mount Joy Borough Police Station, 21 E. Main St.,
Mt. Joy, PA
5. New Holland Borough Police Department at Garden Spot Village, 433 Kinzer Ave., New Holland, PA
6. Northwest Regional Police Department at Giant Food Store, 1278 S. Market St., Elizabethtown,
PA
7. Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office at the Lancaster County Courthouse, 50 N. Duke St., Lancaster,
PA
8. Quarryville Police Department at Ferguson & Hassler Supermarket, 100 Townsedge Dr., Quarryville, PA
9. East Cocalico Township Police Department at Gehman Feed Mill parking lot, 300 block of Main
St., Denver, PA

The next Fourth Fridays will take place Friday, April 22 starting at 5 p.m. There will be a new venue this month which is the new headquarters for the non profit organization Fourth Fridays in Columbia. The location is 401 Locust Street and this "Hub" will offer a place for patrons to pick up a walking map, select brochures, business cards & menus, view a small art exhibit, and enjoy some refreshments. We will be visiting all of the venues over the next week to collect information you would want us to place in patrons hands when they stop in to see us at the Hub location. We will be featuring the following Columbia based artists on our gallery wall: Dale Weibley, Diana Thomas, Marilyn Hobday, Mickey Beck, Sophie Black and Tom Hermansader.